Seed-planter.



.im 367,074. PATENTBD SEPT. 24, 1907.

D. M. PBARGE.

SEED PLANTER.

AVPPLIGATION FILED DBO. 8. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 867,074. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.` E. M. *EEAEGE SEED PLAETER.

APPLIOATIO FILED DEQl 8. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Wikinews @5% akkorde? S PATENTED SEPT. 24, 'i907'.

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D. M. PEARGB.

SEED PLANTER.

' APPLIUATIN FILED No.8, 190g.

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" PATBNTED sim'. 24.1907'.

No. 867,074. D. M. PBARGE.

SEED PLANTBP..

APPLIOATION FILED D'BO.8. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

DAVID M..PEAECE, loFv UNION CITY, TENNESSEE.

SEED-PLANTER'.

- Applicationled Deeember`8,1906. Serial No. 346,887.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, DAVIDAI. PEARCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union City, in the county ofObion and State of Tennessee, have invented cerA and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

' issued to me on .lune `12, 1906, anditconsis'ts `of the.`

tain newanduseful IImprovements in Seed-Planters;

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable/others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My -inventionrelatestoimprovements in seedv planters.'

It has for its object `to provide a practical planteradapted to sow'twokindsof seed alternately or at the same time and either continuously or in hills.

The invention is designedas an improvement of the planter shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 823,358

features ofeonstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outin the claims.

vIn the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a plan view of a seed hopper equipped with my invention, the top or closure for said hopper being removed. Fig. 2

-is a central vertical sectional view of the seed hopper taken at right angles to the bridge, the cover or closure being shown. Fig-3 is a .broken central vertical sec- 1 tional view through the hopper in line with the bridge.

- Fig. l4 is anunder plan view of the hopper. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cover plate before the bridge is put in place. Fig; 6 is an under plan view of said cover plate -with the bridge in place, showing ends of the knock'- out. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the ring and Qnestyle of` dropping platefpr plantingseed in =hills. 7 .is a detailed view showing the construction of the locking device at the right hand side, of Fig;` 7. Fig. 8 is a I central vertical sectional view illustrating` different thicknesses of the perforated portions vof .the dropping Aplate in dotted lines. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a dropping plate for planting seed in continuous rows. Figs.

1 0 and 11 are plan views of other stylesof dropping platesfor planting seed in hills. Figs. 12 and 13 are detached .perspective views of the halves of the bridge.

f liig.A 14 is an end. view of the knock-out or seed ejector;`

15 is a detal view ofvon'je of `the cut-offs. `16

is a detailed view of one of the back-fenders or scrapers,

rand Fig. 17 is a detailed view of the thumb screw used for securing said cut-offs and back-fendeirili place.

Referring more particularly.to the dra.

closure 3. The base-plate is formed withfreiniorciii diametric flange or rib 4 .on its under surface andfa een- ,'tral circular stud 5 on itsl upper surface. Said A.base

vplate is also provided with a circular groove cru-way 6 near' its periphery. l Saidvba'seplate has aslot 7 at the :f base of said vgroove and intosaid'slot extendsagea'rl Specification of Letters Patent.

gs, the seed. hopper comprises a base plate 1, sides 2 and a cover 'or` Patented sept. 24,1907.

'seed tube or the shank of the'franiework and runnerl (not shown) whichl conveys. the seed into the ground.

As shown.. by the dotted linem in 4, one edge of radial line from' the center v ,said slot or opening is'on a of the base plate. l

The sides 2 of the'fhop'perare placed 'outside the flange or rib 11v and' secured to the base plate land to each other in any suitable manner. The cover or closure 3 is retainedfin place by' rods '14'connecting with the base plate and arranged just without the sides. `Said rods are fitted with thumb nuts 15 on their ends where they engage slots in the' cover. 'By this m'eans said cover or closureinay'b'e readily removed after having loosened said' `thumbniits andV thrown saidlrods out of engagement with'"'saidiislots; The,

cover may be provided with a swivele'dl door 16 connected thereto'by a bolt 17.r l Y y A droppingplate 18 is mounted-around thestud 5 as "a journal and rests upon the b ase plate;Ak Saidl drpping plate is arranged within the` ring :gearl which- `has gear teeth 20 extending finto' the groove `6 and meshing with the gear 8 at the slot 7. The periphery of said dropping plate-is beveled downwardly and outwardly and ,the inner edgeof the ring gear is1correspondingly beveled upwardly and linwardlyso 4that'- said dropping plate must be introdudedffrnrfbelow into said ring gear. Said dropping' platetisiprovided with oppositely extending lugs 2111havng-their ends beveled in the opposite direction from'theperipheryf 0s said' plate. The ring gear' has hotchsr-z2andg 23 oppositely arranged .and beveled to Ycorrespond ato the en ds of said and inthe oppbsite'iirectionfrom vthe inner edge of saidring gear. (See Figs'. 8 and' 9.)

The notch 22 is, cut entirelythrough atth'e center as.

at 24'.' To place the dropping-plate 4in the ringf gear, one of the lugs `is'slipped into-the notch 23 while aid plate is inclined to the plan'elof'said ring gear, after whichl the other lug is passed'through the opening 24 as the platefand gear 'are brought intothesameplane, wheruponsaid plate is turned slightly in either' direc- -tion to brin-g the last mentioned lug into engagement the beveled portion of thenotch 22.' this Y means thedropping plate is effectively secured to the ring gear in such manner that" it may be readily andv lquickly disengaged and reniolvedjwhen it, is desired to lsubstitute anotherfstyle'of plate. The dropping platel "should not fitvery tightly "within the' ring gearso that if the latter vibrates alittlefitwill `not interfere Ywith right or left hand side ofthe planter. In Fi.g..-4 the dotted lines n. indicate the'position ofthe discharge.

the smooth running orlmovement of said plate. Said l plate is supported improper position by means oi lugs 26 thereon resting upon the ribs 1'1 on the base plate. The under surface of said cover plate is also provided Withlugs 27 lor holding the ring lgear down in proper place vto be engagedbythe driving gear. The cover plate is held down in place'by'lugs 25u having slots 25h through which pass bolts 25c also passed through the sides of the .hopper and fitted with thumb nuts 25d'. Two semi-circular feed slots are formed in 'said cover plate, one, 28, in Aone hall thereof arranged over thev inner series of holes or perioratious in the dropping plate and the other, 29, in thel other half and arranged overl theouter series of .holes -iri said dropping plate. A yoke 30 extendsfover the slots 29 lar enough above the cover plate to permit theseed 'to passfreely under it. Said yoke serves asa 'braceand also asa means lof taking hold of said plate to litt it out. At the middle of said cover plate are two parallel ledges 31 and 32 forming seats for the parts' or halves 33 and 34- of Athe bridge 35. Said halves of said bridge are h'eld in place at the ends by lugs 36 on'tho halij33 and'lugs `37 on the half 34,' said lugs fitting intovslots 38 in thecover plate. At the center, said bridge is secured by a .bolt 39 carrying a flanged cap 40 erribracing said halves and seated in 'a groove 4l, said bolt being screwed into the cover plate. Said bridge is c'liainbered at each side o. its

center, as at 42 and. 43, and projecting intoeach of said' chambers is a pin 44 upon which the knock-out or seed ejector 45 may be mounted. Said knock-outhas two legs or projections 46 which straddle said pin as shown in Fig. 3.. Each of the legs of said knock-out extends through end extensions of the slots 28 and 29 between the ledges 3l and 32l and are adapted to drop by gravity into the holes in the dropping 'plate as they pass below it, thus discharging the seedfroiu said holes through the opening l2 in the base plate to the seed ,tube 12X, said knock-ont being arranged over -said opening. The knock-out is used in only one of the Vchambers ol the bridge at a time and that one is determined by the .position of said opening 1.2 which may be on one side or the other according as the'hopper isfuscd on the opening when-the hopper is used en thele't hand side of the machine. `When used on the right hand side, the knock-out is changed to the other end of the bridge and the dropping plate is revolved' `in the opposite" direction. As shown in Fig. 14, the ends o the legs of thevknock-out are beveled laterallyfwhereby they.

will ride up at'the ends ofthe holes in the dropping plate. i

4On the outer l'ace of the part 33 shown in Fig.`12) of the bridge are twogroovcs or seatsi'iand 1x18, one Apo l .sitioned at each lend o the slot 28. fAs'shown in Fig. 1,

the seat 4,7 is occupied by a cut-off 49 while the seat 48,

containsa back-fender 50. .These are .the proper 'positionsfor said cut-off and back-fender when the dropping plate is turning 'in the' direction of .thearrow in- Fig: 6.

' plate.

Thepart 34 (shown `in Fig. 13) is similarly provided with grooves or'seats 5l and 52, arranged at the ends ol .the slot 29. When the dropping plate is revolvingr in the direction indicated by the arrow, a cut-oil is zo ranged in' the seat 5l and a back lender in the seat 52. Ii the dropping pla-te is revolved in the opposite direction, the cut-oflsand back-lenders should be ini-erehanged. A partition 53 is placed upon the bridge and extends to the top of the hopper thereby dividing it into two compartments adapted to hold different kindsof seed. It is evident'that the seed in each cornpartment will have access to the holes in the dropping plate which are uncovered by the slotv in the cover Each of the cut-offs as shown in Fig. 15, coniprisesa body portion 54, preferably of wood, and a stiff brush 55 secured by a metal band 5G. A slot 57 is formed in the body portion andthrough said slet a thumb screw 58 is passed whereby said cut-off may be adjusted vertically so that the brush will always rest upon the surface of the dropping plate to prevent any of the seed, except that contained in the holes in said plate, from` passing under the bridge. Said thumb screw is madewith an integral washer 59` to prevent inarring the w'ood at the sidesI of the slot. Each o the backenders is made preferably of leather, is provided with a slot 60 and is adjustably held by a thumb screw like those used with the cutofis so aste prevent the seed from working back under the bridge when the drop- -ping plate turns backward as it does when the machine is turned at the end of the row.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 8, I have shown one style of dropping plate 18 for sowing two kinds o seed in alternare hills, the holes 6l of the inner series being arranged intermediate of the-holes62 in the outer 'series lf it is desired to sow the two k'inds of seed inthe same hill,

the holes ofthe two series 'are' placed in line with onel another as shownin dotted lines at 61" in Fig. 7. All of said holes areof such size that as said plate revolves there will be intervals between the passage of the holes in one series and those in the other. The amount of seed droppedinkeach hill may -be regulated vby the thickness o the' :portion of the plate in .which said holes are formed as it is evident that the' thicker the plate the largerlwill be the amount of seed which will be chambercd therein. In Fig. 8 the portion 63 oi the plate V18 inwhich the inner series o holes are made is much thicker than the body thereof andthe portion 6-'1 containing thelouter series of holes is also thicker than the body but not as thickas the' portion G3. These thicknesses'may be varied to suit anyrcquireinents. The'amount of seed dropped in each hill may be further regulated byvarying the sine of the openings or 'holes'. This isl illustrated in the dropping plate (i5 shown in Fig. .10, l

The droppingplate in Fig. 10 has a series of slots 66 arranged -within an outer series of circular holes 67. Saidv slots andholes are alternately placed. This pl-.rt e

will sow a row of one kind of seed through the slots` ol the inner seriesand alternately o said rows it will drop hills-of another kind of seed, through the outer series of holes. ThisI style of `plate-is particularly useful loi planting corn and beans in the same row. 'lhe length ol the slots 6(3 may, of course, be varied to suit any re quirernents and as long as the radial angle determined bythe length of .one of said slots is less than the radial than the other.

.angle determined by two adjacent holes 67,- the plate will sow the Vseed intermittently. In Fig. 11,'1 have illustrated another style ofintereA lnittently dropping plate 6 8 wherein the outer series of holes 6i) are formed like in Fig. 10 but 4the inner series of openings comprise smaller holes y70 arranged in pairs, one pair placed intermediate of each two of the holes 69. This plate will sow two hills of one kind of seed be.- tween two hills of anotherkind.' ForV instance, it will drop one hill of corn, then two hills of beans, then one I;

hill ofcornand`so on. I v

Fig. 9 illustrates a style of dropping plate 7l for sowing twolkinds of seed alternately but in a continuous row. It is provided with an o uter series of slots `72 and an inner series of slots 73. While the outer slots are Vactually longer than the inner ones, they determine the'same radial angle and will, therefore, sow the .same length of the row.. This plate, therefore, wilLsow continuouslyfirst a given lengthwith one kind of seed', thenv the same length of the second Akind of seed, then an equal length of the'frstkind of seed, and so on, the. different kinds of seed being fed through the .different s eries of slots. By varying the lengths of the slots in the two series so that their Vradial angles will be different, the plate will sow alonger space of one kind Vofl seed Referring again to Figs. 2 and 7, if one kind of seed lis placed in the right hand compartment Av and another in the left hand compartment B, the seed inA will iillthe holes 62 ofthey outer series in the dropping plate 18, as said holes are exposed by the larger semicircularslot in the ycover plate While the seed in B will iill the holes 61 of the inner series in said droppin-g plate as they are exposed by thesmaller slot in said cover plate. It will be noted that the holes of the inner 'series ofth'e dropping plate will be protected `from the contents of the compartment A by the cover plate and the holes, of the 'outer series will be likewise protected from the contents of the compartment B, 'As said dropping plate is revolved the holes therein are filled with the seed from thel compartments and B and as they pass below the bridge the seed ,is'swept off "clean with the surface of the plate/:byV thefcut-offs..` As each hole. passes over the discharge opening in the'base plate-it is discharged of its load by ,the knock-out. It will be v' observed that the .seed carriedby one series of holes'in the dropping plate will pass directly over the discharge opening in the base plate While the s eed'in the otherse'- -rie'sfwill have to firstpass under th'e'opposite endlof ,thev bridgeand under the" other eompartrnent' before it reaehesthe discharge-opening,.-

I claim: '.1. In 1a planter,

seed-carrying perforations--therein, the portions of said ,-2. Ina planter, a double hopper adapted-to hold two kinds Aof seed, and means'to alternately feed seed continu-.-

onsly to the vsaine row including' a revoluble ,dropping plate having two concentric; series of 4 'arcuate slots therein, the slots lof'one series' being arranged alternately with those of the other series..

3. Ina'planter, a donble'hopper adapted V`to-hold two I I kinds of seed, and meanstohlte'rnately feed said 4s eed, to

v to eject 'the seed from said drppingplafc.:

a revolnble drpping.,r plate.

.tric series of perfor-ations therein, ai'covr'plat a @a hopp-erf and .n l'revoluble dropping plate arranged thereingsaid platehavingitwo series of vin "each `half thereof arranged in line series'of slots i the same row, including a revoluble droppingplate having two 'concentric series of perforatons therein, the per-' forations of one seriesarranged alternately with'ftvhe perl'orai'ions of the-other series.- 4 Kv 4. ln a planter, a hopperdivided into two compartments, a revoluble dropping plate arrangedin the bottom of said hopper and having two series of. perforations Itherein. means to feed the seed from said compartments to sniddropping plate and an ejector having two"`legs, each ladapted-to enter one' of the series `of perforations in said dropping plate. Y

In a planter. a hopper divided int'otwo' ompartmonts-a revolnble dropping plate arranged' in the bottom of said hopper and having two series ot perfor-ations thereim, a slotted cover' plate arranged above said drop vping plate and an ejector having two legs each extending 6A In a planter. a hopper divided intoVV two compartments by a partition arranged vertically-across thresamr. a'i-evoluble dropping plate arranged in thev bottomof said hopper and having two concentricvseries of perforations therein. a cover plate arranged above said dropping" plate and having a semi-circular' slotv in'. each compartment 'adapted to feed the seed 'in said `ompartment toonc of -the series .of perforations in the dropping pia e, and'nieans 7.' ln 'a plantel', a hopper, i arranged in the bottom thereof.`and having two 'concentric series of perfor-ations therein. 'a coverplat'e arranged above said dropping plate and having a semi-circular slot in each. half thereof arrangedin v`line"wih'o`ne of the -series of slots in said dropping plate. a"liambe1" e'd bridge extending nross said cover plate nd"t-'overing the l'ends of said slots, 'and means arranged in the chamber of said. bridge for discharging the seed `which is fed ytosaid-'dripvping plate' throughthe slots 'in the c'ove1"plate.`^ "Y:

81 I l a plantel', a hopper, al revoluble'l dropping plate arrang d in the bottom-.thereof and havingtwo ooncon. tric sei'iesof perforatiops therein,I a covorpla'te arranged above said dropping plate and having aseini-circiilar slot in each half thereof arranged in'lin'e with one ot' the series of slots in said Vdroppingv plate, a vertical partition across' s aidhopper dividing it into two compartments,` said .partition having a chamber at its` base4 covering the ends ofsaid slots, and means arranged inl charging the seed cover plate.

9. In va planter, a hopper, a `revoluble `drop[')iizig:plate arranged in the bottom thereof Yand having tw said chamber for dis which is fed through the; slots 'in the raged above said droppingplate and havingla siemicircnliir slot ODCEII- ioo in each halt thereof arranged'in: line" with one' of the,

series of slots in said dropping plate, a vertical partition 4arranged across said hopper,` dividing it into two compart;

ments, said partition nhaving a chamber-at its base covin said chamber' 'fordischargingr the seed which is fed through. the slots in theicover plate.

10. In a-pianter, a hopper divided-into' two compartments kby a partition arranged vertically across the same, a revolnhle dropping platearrangedin the botm -of said .i hopper, a slotted cover piate'arra'iig'ed above said dropping plate whereby seed Afrom each ofsaidvconipartments is fedto said dropping plate, anyok'e/ on's'ah cover plate extending across one of the s ls therein and sevving as a brace and means'gof taking hold of said plate to remove it, and

means to eject thes'ed from said dropping plate.

11. In .a planter, a hopper, a revoluble dropping plate ,-havngtwolconcentric series of perforations therein, and

having Atwo concentric series of perfor-ations therein, a.'

coverplate arranged above said dropping 'plate and having a semi-circular vslot, in eaclflialf thereof'arranged in line lwith one of. the series of slots in said dropping plate, a chamber-ed bridge made of two similar' parts having lugs engaging niches in said feeding plate, acap litting across said pa'rts of said bridge'and secured in place by a bolt engaging Withsaid cover plate, and meansin ,the chamber of said bridge to/discharge the seed' from said dropping plate,v j.

A 14. In a planter, a hopper, a'revoluble dropping plate having two concentric series of perforations thereinwa Cover plate arranged above said dropping plate and having -a :semi-circular slot in eachvhalf thereof arranged ingline with oneroof the series `of slots in said, dropping plate, a 'chanibered bridge extending across4 said -cover plate and 'covering the ends oi vsaid slots, a seed'ejector arranged in the chamber ,of said bridge, and cut-ous arranged at one end of each ofthe slots in the cover p late for the purpose specified. 'i I 155, Inatplanter, a hopper, 'a revoluble dropping plate having two concentric series of perrorations therein,'a,

cover platel arranged above said dropping plate-and having 'a semi-circular slot in each half thereof arranged in -line `with one ofthe series of slots in said dropping plate, a vchanbered .bridge extending across 'said'cover' plate and I covering the ends of said slots, a seed ejector arranged in' the chamber' of said bridge, and adjustablecueoffs arranged at one end-ot each of theslots in the cover plate for the purpose specified.

16.' 'I n a planter, a hopper, a revolublefdropping plate havingtwoconcelntric series of perfrato'ns therein, a cover plate arrangedabove said dropping' pl te' and having a semicircular.slot in each half thereof'airanged 4in line with one ofthe series of slots in said dropping plate, a chambered 'bridge extending' across said cover plate and covering the ends of'said' slots, Aa-sed ejector arranged in the chamber of said bridge and eut-offs arranged at one end of each of the slots in the cover plate for the purpose specii'ied, each of said cut-offs having a brush at one end adapted 'to engage the dropping plate.v

17. In a plantenafhopper, a revoluble`dropping plate having'two concentric series of perforations therein, 'a cover plate arranged above said dropping plate and having a semicirculai'" slot in each half thereof arranged in line withone -ofthe series of slots in said dropping plate, a chambered br-idge .extending across said cover'plate and covering the ends of said slots, a seed ejector arranged in the chamber of said bridge, and vertically adjustable cutoi`Es arranged at one end of each of said slots in ibo cover plate for the purpose specified, said bridge having guides for said eut-offs. v v

1S. In a plantel', a hopper, a revoluble dropping plate having two concentric series of pcrlorations therein, a cover plate arranged above said dropping plaie and having a semi-circular slot in each halff thereof arranged in line with one of the series of slots in said droppingr plate, a chnlnbered bridge extending across said cover plate und covering' the ends of said slots, :i seed ejector arranged in the chamber of said bridge. cut-oils arranged at one end -of each of said slots'in thc cover plate and back-fenders arranged at the other end oi cach of said slots for the purpose specilied.l

19. In a planter, a hopper. a revoluble dropping,Y plate having two concentric series of perforaiions therein, a cover plate arranged above said dropping plate and having a semi-circular slot in each half thereof arranged in line with one of tbeseries of slots in said dropping plaie, u charnbcred bridge extending across said cover plaie and covering the ends of said slots, a seed ejector arranged h1 the chamber of said bridge. vertically adjustable cut-offs and.bac'lrfenders arranged at the opposite ends oi euch of the slots in the cover plate, and guides on said bridge for said cut-offs and back-fenders.

20. In a planter, a hopper, a dropping plate in said hopper, a ring gear arranged outside of said droppingr plate, means on said dropping plate and ring gear for locking them together against separate vertical displace ment and means to revolve said ring gear.

21. In a planter, a hopper, a dropping plaie in said hopper, -said dropping plate having its edge beveled out wardly and downwardly, a ring gear arranged outside said dropping plate and having its inner edge correspondingl'v beveled inwardly and upwardly, means to loci: said dropping plate and ring gear together, and means to revolve said ring gear. f

.22. In a planter, a hopper. a--dropplng plate in said hopper, said dropping plate having its edge beveled outwardly and downwardly. a ringgear arranged outside said dropping plate and having its inner edge correspondingly beveled inwardly and upwardly, said dropping' plaie having oppositely extending lugs at its edge, said. lugs having their ends beveled in the opposite direction from the edge of said plate, the ring gear having notches to receive said lugs, the bases of said notches being beveled to correspond with the ends of the lugs in the opposite direction from the inner edge oi said ring gear, one of said notches having a passage'out therethrough for the purpose specified, and means to revolve said ring geur.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature, in presence 

